Paul McQuistan agrees with Browns

After starting 40 games the past three seasons with the Seahawks, versatile offensive lineman Paul McQuistan has agreed to contract terms with the Cleveland Browns.

Before signing a future contract with the Seahawks in January 2011, Paul McQuistan had started 12 games in his previous five NFL seasons that were spent with three teams.

In three seasons with the Seahawks, McQuistan never started fewer than 10 games in any one season.

But his next start will come for the Cleveland Browns. McQuistan, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to contract teams, the Browns’ website reported Monday. McQuistan was with the Browns in 2010, but did not play.

McQuistan is the eighth of the Seahawks’ players who became unrestricted free agents on March 11 to sign elsewhere, joining cornerbacks Brandon Browner (Patriots) and Walter Thurmond (Giants), tackle Breno Giacomini (Jets), safety Chris Maragos (Eagles), defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (Buccaneers), wide receiver Golden Tate (Lions) and defensive end O’Brien Schofield, who signed with the Giants but had the deal voided after he failed his physical.

Last season, McQuistan started 14 games for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks – eight at left tackle and six at left guard. McQuistan was rotating with James Carpenter at left guard down the stretch and during the postseason. McQuistan was a 16-game starter in 2012, 10 at right guard and six at left guard. In 2011, he started 10 games, four at left tackle, three at left guard and three at right guard. McQuistan even changed positions during games, sliding from one spot to another to replace an injured player.

Obviously, McQuistan was a big part of the line that has allowed Marshawn Lynch to rush for 1,204, 1,590 and 1,257 yards the past three seasons, when he also has scored 35 rushing touchdowns.

“He’s kind of the glue, that’s the way I look at him,” line coach Tom Cable has said of McQuistan. “Paul has been so valuable. He has played multiple positions. He never misses a beat. It’s just that his wisdom and experience are so valuable for those young guys in there. So he truly has been the glue in that (meeting) room, without a doubt.”

As reliable as McQuistan was for Cable, who has had seven starters miss a combined 60 games the past three seasons; Cable also has been good for McQuistan.

Of McQuistan’s 52 NFL starts in his eight NFL seasons, 46 have come while playing for Cable – six in 2007 with the Oakland Raiders, when Cable was the line coach; 40 the past three seasons with the Seahawks, with Cable as the line coach as well as assistant head coach. McQuistan also started six games with the Raiders in 2006, when Cable was with the Atlanta Falcons.

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